Did the friendship between the two influence the decision of Philpott to resign from cabinet because she had lost confidence that the prime minister was respecting the independence of criminal prosecutions?

The truth of the matter is that very few ministers leave any significant traces in the offices they pass through. But the difference a minister makes is never greater than when she resigns on principle.

Attention has been focused on the prospect of Donald Trump abusing the power of his office to thwart criminal investigations, a Nixon for our time. Who would have thought that it was Trudeau that we should have been worried about?

The Catholic Church in Canada does not have a surfeit of priests like Fr. Tom and we need him, in his own voice. And if that voice is now repentant and seeks mercy, as he should, that, too, can be a lesson at the service of the gospel.